NSK July: Back to Basic’s.

liltdiddylilt

Loveadove good to hear from you. You keepy applying and keep your head up. Sounds like you're doing everything you need!

Kat, I have found that temping sometimes takes longer to set up than getting a FT job by the time you've done typing tests and all the rest of it, on a day of the agencies choosing, then in my experience I had to ring THEM every morning to see if there were any jobs going or they didn't tell me. It was soul destroying but it pushed me to get a proper job sorted fast!

Today was swimming nicely along to a SFD, especially since I have £16.70 in my purse and that is my only 'cash' til next week. But now I have decided after not defrosting anything and cooking half a dinner then remembering, that I shall have a chinese. It is my second takeaway in July & the first one that I will be paying for so I am not too offended by it. It's my one night off in months as Jelly has gone to her grandparents for the night!

TV budget will get blasted tonight. I have only spent 3 hours 45 minutes watching it til now. But I have a few pregrammes on the planner that I want to watch! So a naughty day in all, but not terrible!

Fmess

As predicted, the gardening resulted in a spend as we have lost our spade! No idea how but we did have a new garage so I think it must have disappeared during that. Told OH that it will be coming out of the food budget so thecredit card was not used.

Did some major recycling in the garden. Dismantled a falling down wall and then used the stones to make a new flower bed. Also took out some wooden lawn edging and used it to fill a gap in the hedge We are feeling quite proud of ourselves.

apple_muncher

Today I have decided to give up on using bicarb + water, and acv + water for washing and conditioning my hair. Apart from the first few times, it has left my hair rather skanky - not a good look! I've tried altering the amount of bicarb or acv that I use, but all to no avail. Today I tried doing the wash without the conditioning and it was so bad I re-washed and conditioned with my normal shampoo and conditioner. I gave it a good go for about 3 weeks.

I wonder if it is an issue with the fact that I colour my hair, and a reaction between the remnants of dye (last did that about 8 weeks ago - it is in sore need of being done again!) and the ingredients.

Anyway, I need a haircut, then I'll re-colour it and maybe try again in September.

So, a lovely week away with dd has been had. Not a single NSD acquired, but great mummy-daughter time spent together. So worth every penny!

And I do still have money left in the bank, which is always good at the end of the month!

Like others, I'm looking forward to what kat will unveil for us in August...!

liltdiddylilt

AM! - I totally missed that you were doing that! I have experimented with both bicarb and ACV. Bicarb is ok, as long as you can get used to having zero lather. It leaves a residue on your scalp unless your rinse very hard, which isn't good for your hair, especially down south where I am as the water is so hard.

ACV basically strips your hair, of any deposits that normal shampoo, conditioner, bicarb, pollution & hard water leave on your hair. But it also removes hair dye! Especially that with red in, if that's your colour of choice. I use it to remove build up, after normal shampoo & conditioner, once a month or so. If I use it more than that, it dries out my hair terribly, as along with all the deposits, it takes away natural oils. After a while of using too often, your scalp will produce far too much sebum (grease!) to try and coat your hair and protect it. Hence it going lank and limp.

I think the key is moderation, as with everything! There is a huge range of sulphate free haircare products now. Buy 2-3 different types, and switch them every week or so. This stops build up, then use the ACV once a month.

HTH!

apple_muncher

liltdiddylilt wrote: »

AM! - I totally missed that you were doing that! I have experimented with both bicarb and ACV. Bicarb is ok, as long as you can get used to having zero lather. It leaves a residue on your scalp unless your rinse very hard, which isn't good for your hair, especially down south where I am as the water is so hard.

ACV basically strips your hair, of any deposits that normal shampoo, conditioner, bicarb, pollution & hard water leave on your hair. But it also removes hair dye! Especially that with red in, if that's your colour of choice. I use it to remove build up, after normal shampoo & conditioner, once a month or so. If I use it more than that, it dries out my hair terribly, as along with all the deposits, it takes away natural oils. After a while of using too often, your scalp will produce far too much sebum (grease!) to try and coat your hair and protect it. Hence it going lank and limp.

I think the key is moderation, as with everything! There is a huge range of sulphate free haircare products now. Buy 2-3 different types, and switch them every week or so. This stops build up, then use the ACV once a month.

HTH!

Thank you lilt! Your explanation is excellent: I'm also down south with v hard water. (but have just had a week in the NE with very soft water and it was just the same).

I shall return to the vat of 'faith in nature' shampoo and conditioner that I bought years ago and am still working my way through. So at least I don't have to shell out for toiletries.

NinjaSavingKat

Well I have a 10 minute break ( goody) and wanted to drop in and say HELLO! and a jolly good evening to you all. I was naughty today and stopped to buy some crisps before this horrendous shift started. It has draggggged on a bit today!

Speaking of hair I am in desperate need of a REAl cut by an actual professional to set me up for the first 6-9 months of my travels. I am obviously going to research this and possibly look into the Tony and Guy hairdressing school but am also tempted by one of the little independent salons in my home town that look like they need help. oh and yes the colour needs done urgently...

£25 for food for the week and I desperatly need to get some in. I have celery sticks, half a block of tofu, half a red cabbage, lentils and three banans - but you would be surprised at what I can create from that! Might make some humus tonight.... when I get in at midnight (shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh don't tell Mummy!)..

Anyway I still have to look at Lilt's foody list - i am such a let down recently.. SORRY!!!!

Right back on it - time is up! Boo hiss. Only 75 minutes to go until I can leave.

Let the count down begin....

homemademama

My how the thread has grown since I was last here!

I have had a nightmare month, made worse by having no Internet for weeks. I have not kept track of anything at all so can't post totals etc. But i just wanted to say I am here now and raring to get going with next month's challenge.

Keep up the good work everyone! Well done for all your successes!

NinjaSavingKat

Morning All!!!

So I got DRENCHED on the way to the station this morning. Inevitable really and over-due considering I have had 3 weeks of pure sunshine. It turns out mud-guards are important for preventing wet pants, my water-proof jacket is not water-proof, giant puddles leave only one foot soaking wet (seriously missed it as it was literally invisible) and lorries do not slow down when passing you. I just laughed in the end.

Coupled with the fact my rain coat is bright green and my rucksack cover is an even brighter green I looked like an angry turtle flying down the hill and was a sight to behold upon reaching the station - then proceeded to freeze as I left my hoody at home thinking the raincoat would be enough - at least I was awake by then!!!

It's like deja vu. Back to work already! Got 8 hours sleep in the last 24 hours and 16 hours of work - feel like a machine! Grr!

Back to the gym today to hit back and biceps - get me - then off to the Dr to get this chest thing checked out.

Hope everyone is keeping up with this exercise malarky. Are you working in as much movement as possible? Taking the stairs..? Walking to the shops? .... Spill the beans...??

Gonna go search for some fitness quotes from you all now... just as a slight kick up the !!! in time for more in August - mwah ha ha ha!

Laters!

liltdiddylilt

I really don't know how you do it Kat - it takes a level of commitment I just don't have to work that much, sleep that little and still keep going 2 years later!?!?

Having said that, today is my 'day off' and the first lie in I have had in absolutely months. Usually I am up around 6 with Jellytot. So what did I do? I slept til 6, got up a couple of times, had another quick doze, then got up properly at 8. I've had my toast, a coffee, and am sat debating whether to google Macbooks again or take a cotton bud soaked in surgical spirit to my keyboard which is frankly an eyesore... Yeah I will worry about the keyboard, whilst the screen hangs off :rotfl:

I've done a little bit more than my usual amount of exercise, but not tonnes. I do a LOT of walking in a month, and thats about all I am allowed to do. I start steroid injections into my spine soon though and hopefully they will help!

IT'S PAYDAY!!!! Via the medium of text message I watched my salary whizz into my account this morning, the expected 2 bills drop the balance down to purely my salary amount for August, and then 2 standing orders push more money out to my other accounts to cover bills. I thought it would take 3 days for SO's to hit the other accounts, but other text messages told me it was already there, so I don't feel £130 poorer for the next 3 days at least It is already looking tight so I am budgeting for the extreme & trying to save £248.76 (don't ask :rotfl:) which leaves me with £130.02 for August groceries. I smell the August challenge coming on.

Off to get those cotton buds...

NinjaSavingKat

dolly84 wrote: »

I am totally starving, having cycled 10 miles in the heat and one part was a 25% (right number but not sure how you write it) hill, it went on and on.

Munchin wrote: »

I made it out for a run first thing this morning and it was lovely. I've got my running plan all good to go as I have a 10k race in 13 weeks and my training plan is 13 weeks so it is about time I got cracking.

LoveaDove wrote: »

Really need to get back into routine with some proper exercise- I have spied an exercise bike in the spare room so I might hop on it in a bit and give it a whirl!

abundant1972 wrote: »

I actually got myself to the gym after work too so am well pleased... that's 3/12 sessions.

mooomin wrote: »

Another SFD achieved and got a good amount of walking in too. I'm aiming to increase the walking today.....

apple_muncher wrote: »

I have reached the heady heights - and tired legs - of 23,000 steps!

Fmess wrote: »

.........although have done nearly 16000 steps

I found all these wonderful comments on everyone's exercising exploits (by no means exhaustive) but realized more importantly all the other news I have missed since I have been so exhausted I didn't manage to keep up with posts...

I feel awful to be honest as there seems to be so much news happening in peoples lives, The Big C striking it's ugly head, weddings and cheeky requests for money into bank accounts - that would make me sick, Stewbys training day frolics, Abundant's "back in control" feelings.. MotherNerd being super sick and in pain, NannyG losing the internet and not being able to check in with us, beautiful invitations being made, Dolly's seriously kick !!! exercising, Fmess green fingers, Loveadoves job hunting, Munchin's lobster like qualities..:p..Lilt's exploits with Jellytot (and poor mummy)....

There is just so much happening! Hope everyone has a simple, clean end to this month as we will soon be welcoming in August!

Onwards and Upwards!!!